Homicide and other crime falls in St. Paul and Minneapolis in 2025
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The number of homicides in St. Paul and Minneapolis fell in 2025, part of an ongoing nationwide ebbing from a pandemic crime surge.
Why it matters: St. Paul's public safety strategy that led to a drastic decline in murders already has Minneapolis leaders working to copy that approach.
By the numbers: St. Paul Police reported 15 homicides in 2025, down from 33 in 2024 and the lowest annual total in 12 years, according to the Pioneer Press.
- In Minneapolis, 64 people were murdered last year, according to city data. That's a 16% drop compared to 2024's count of 76, but still above 2019's total of 48.
What they're saying: St. Paul Police and Ramsey County attorney John Choi have credited the department's adoption of a Denver model that focuses on solving nonfatal shootings and convicting the shooters.
The other side (of the river): Minneapolis City Council members have criticized the police department over its low clearance rate.
- Department leaders have cited low staffing levels, high caseloads and a lack of cooperation by some victims, according to the Star Tribune.
- Last month, council members earmarked $1.7 million toward helping MPD create a nonfatal shooting task force similar to St. Paul's.
The latest: Minneapolis Chief Brian O'Hara last week announced a restructuring of his leadership and created a new major crimes division.
- He also highlighted crime decreases in other areas, particularly carjackings and robberies.
Zoom out: Homicides through October were on pace to fall nationally by nearly 20% in 2025, according to Real-Time Crime Index, which uses local crime numbers from 600 departments.
- Researchers told NPR that crime surged in 2020 and 2021 due to pandemic-related stresses and a lack of people and officers out on streets.
- Now crime is in a declining cycle, and police have more time to investigate because there are fewer incidents, according to experts.